Study visa challenges threaten future of talented student  

Jonasse Vilanculo (17) feels he is watching his dreams go down the drain because he cannot afford a study visa.
Born in Mozambique, the star learner achieved distinctions in maths, life orientation, accounting, life sciences, physical science and tourism in last year’s National Senior Certificate matric exams.
He just missed the mark for IsiZulu HM and English FAL, scoring 77% and 79%, respectively.
“I have always done well in school. I was happy when I got my results, but it was overshadowed by stress. I could not help but wonder, what is the point of getting good results?
“In Grade Seven, I was approached by a company with a scholarship. I was so excited, and so was the rest of my family. But as soon as they received my documents, they called my father and explained that they could no longer take me to school,” he says.
Vilanculo says he has lived with a cloud over him ever since.
“I didn’t know I was different from other children, but after that day, I felt like every good thing I tried to accomplish would not mean much,” he adds.
He says he met teachers in secondary school who encouraged him to keep giving his schoolwork his best effort. One even gave him the funds for his application fee to the university of his dreams.
“We started applying to universities in May 2024. I soon realised I would need a study permit (visa). I asked some of my teachers to check the requirements and felt there was no way I could meet the criteria. I wanted to give up,” he says.
According to the Department of Home Affairs, some requirements for foreign students to get a study visa are:
• a passport valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of the intended visit;
• payment of the prescribed fee;
• a vaccination certificate;
• proof of financial means to cover envisaged living expenses during the sojourn in SA;
• payment for the tuition fee;
• proof of medical cover renewed annually for the period of study with a medical scheme registered in terms of the Medical Schemes Act.
“Right now, all I have is a passport,” he laments.
Vilanculo applied for a BSc in Computer Science but is slowly losing hope that his dreams will come to fruition.
“I used to imagine that if I worked hard enough, I could change my life. I wanted to change my family situation and give my siblings a better home,” he says.
Vilanculo says his parents, who are street vendors, did what they could to give him a better future.
He believes that if he does not get a study visa and remains in SA, he will soon be selling fruit on the side of the road.